Brad White shares where Kentucky's pass rush stands

Fall camp is wearing on around the country and the Kentucky pass rush is having an issue that has plagued many position groups across the country the last few days: too many ups and downs.

As camp gets more grueling and taxing, players have to remain as locked in as they were on Day 1.

“I think it’s a daily battle with those guys,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said. “I think we still need to get a little bit off the rollercoaster. We have some days where we’re really good and then some days I don’t feel the energy and you have to get after it a little bit.”

The Kentucky pass rush is looking to take considerable steps forward this fall. The unit finished ranked just 104th last year in sacks, securing 20 on the season, or about 1.5 per game.

That won’t cut it if the Wildcats want to win more games this fall.

“Listen, you’re going to have those ebb and flows in camp, but from that group I’m really trying to demand, and coach (Anwar) Stewart‘s demanding of those guys, that just we need that level every day because we’re going to need it every week,” White said.

“You can’t have a lull moment in the season. You’ve got 12 guaranteed (games) and we can’t have, ‘Hey, we played six really good, two or three sort of ah, it was OK, and then three that…’ They’ve got to play elite all the time. You want that from everybody, but especially up there, man.”

One of the bigger points of emphasis from White seems to be playing through some discomfort, playing through tiredness.

That was something Kentucky didn’t always do well last season, and it’s something the coaching staff is constantly harping on this fall. If the Wildcats can show a little more toughness, the Kentucky pass rush could be in good shape.

“You’ve got to play strong and physical and nasty and it hurts and it’s gritty and you’ve got to tape up,” White said. “You’re going to have dings and bruises and your body’s going to hurt, but to play that position in the trenches, you’ve got to embrace that and you’ve got to love it.

“It’s almost a sense of pride, like yeah, you know what, I’ve got to tape my other elbow up. I’ve got to do this. You can’t be a Ferrari sports car out there.”

Kentucky will trot out its new and improved pass rush on Sept. 2 in a season opener against Ball State.